Radio-TV personality Wink Martindale will do a test run of four audio-biographies starting the weekend of March 2 on CRN Digital Talk Radio Network. The first will be Frank Sinatra, followed by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme,, Johnny Mathis and Neil Diamond. They will air at 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Frank Sinatra will be the first person profiled by Wink Martindale in a test run of four audio-biographies to air on CRN Digital Talk Radio Network March 2-3. They will air at 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Veteran radio personality Rich "Brother" Robbin is the new afternoon drive (2-7 p.m.) personality on San Diego's "The Walrus", XHPRS105.7 FM. It plays "the good times - greatest hits."

Wink Martindale has created terrific audio-biographies over the years. K-Earth 101 aired one of them over the Christmas holidays. Now you will have a chance to hear four more of these specials in March.

Starting with Frank Sinatra, they will air each weekend – 6 p.m. Saturday and repeated at 8 p.m. Sunday starting March 2-3 on CRN Digital Talk Radio Network – www.crntalk.com.

The other subjects will be Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Johnny Mathis and Neil Diamond.

“I’ve agreed with Mike Horn, president of the CRN Digital Talk Radio Network (nationwide) to do a series of four weekends. This is sort of a ‘test’ on what otherwise is an all-talk network. In fact, most of my shows will be more talk than music. Example, on the Sinatra show I use several snippets of his songs to underline a story having been told. The only full song will be ‘My Way’ in the final segment, following Paul Anka relating the circumstances surrounding his writing the song for Sinatra,” Martindale said.

“Rich’s career spans many decades and many markets including Los Angeles (KIQQ and Ten-Q), Phoenix, Detroit, Portland, Nashville, Memphis and Tucson, but he is best-known and remembered for his work in San Diego at KGB and KCBQ (‘back in the good ol’ days’) and more recently at KBZT and KCBQ,” said programming-operations manager, Mike Shepard.

“Robbin was one of the legendary disc jockeys who inspired me to get into radio, and we had the great fortune of working together to make K-BEST 95 a dominant station in San Diego in the ’90s,” Shepard said.

Robbin said in the announcement., “There I was, sitting at the beach with my website (www.richbroradio.com) and three old classic cars, safely retired (or so I thought) minding my own business and here came this wonderful opportunity to return to the air on 105.7 The Walrus which I just couldn’t refuse … and it’s even more fun today!”

Here is The Walrus weekday line-up is as follows:

5-9 a.m.: Nolan & Kim (John Nolan & Kim Morrison)

9 a.m.-2 p.m. : Dave Mason

2-7 p.m.: Rich “Brother” Robbin

7 p.m.- midnight: Tom Kent

The station is streamed so it is available to Orange County audiences – www.1057thewalrus.com.

KBEACH REACHES O.C.

Have you ever heard of KBeach radio? I was unaware of it, but it is the student-run station at Cal State University Long Beach.

Now, thanks to an arrangement with K-Jazz 88.1 FM, KBeach will switch from digital to HD and be available on the K-Jazz frequency and can be heard in Orange County. KBeach has been in service for 12 years.

Evan Dixon, KBeach general manager, said, “About 60 per cent of new cars have HD radio as part of the package, and this is a whole new audience that we are expanding on,” he said. “This is the first time in Los Angeles a student-run radio station has gone on free air in 30 years.”

In radio terminology,HD is a term that stands for “Hybrid Digital.” This is a step up from KBeach’s old digital form which was accessed only on the Internet. The station airs talk and music programs,most of them hosted by students.

To tune in, you will need an HD Tuner either in your car or at home. More information: www.KBeach.org.

MANNY’S PROJECT

What do radio personalities do in their spare time? Manny Pacheco, host of “Forgotten Hollywood” at 3 p.m. Saturdays on KSPA/1510 AM and author of a series of books by the same name, is working on a documentary film on character actor Lionel Barrymore.

The challenging part is fund-raising, he said. Dozens of Orange County residents have made contributions. Pacheco has a production team in place and commitments from talent, writers, producers, and all those other people you see named on production credits. Here is the link to check out and decide if you want to consider a contribution: www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460.

RADIO REWIND

Feb. 17, 1922: Western Radio Company put WOQ on the air in Kansas City. Charles Fillmore, founder of the Unity School of Christianity, bought the station in 1924 and began publishing a monthly devotional booklet, “Daily Word.” WOQ went off the air in 1934.

Feb. 18, 1922: WOC went on the air in Davenport, Iowa. It was the first commercial station in Iowa and only the 13th station in the United States. Today the station is NewsTalk 1420.

Feb. 19, 1922: Ed Wynn became the first vaudeville star to perform on radio, playing his “Perfect Fool” character on WJZ in Newark. He brought several station employees into the studio so he would have an audience like he was used to. Wynn later had three different radio series of his own, then found new success in movies and television.

Feb. 20, 1949: David and Ricky Nelson made their first appearance on their parents’ radio show, “The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet.” The boys’ roles were originally played by child actors. The series aired on radio from 1944 to 1954 and on ABC Television from 1952 to 1966.

Feb. 21, 1982: Murray Kaufman died of cancer at 60. Known as Murray The K, he worked at New York radio stations WMCA, WINS and WOR-FM and briefly hosted the syndicated “Soundtrack Of The ’60s” program.

Feb. 22, 1918: Don Pardo was born Dominick Pardo in Westfield, Massachusetts. He attended Providence College, then worked at WJAR before joining NBC Radio in 1944 as a newscaster and announcer. He has been the announcer for dozens of radio and television series, including “The Price Is Right,” “Jeopardy!” and “Saturday Night Live.”

Feb. 23, 1927: President Calvin Coolidge signed the Radio Act of 1927, creating the Federal Radio Commission to license and regulate broadcasters. The FRC was replaced in 1934 by the Federal Communications Commission, which regulated radio, television, telegraphy and telephony.

CURTIS EXITS KPCC

Program director Craig Curtis has departed Southern California Public Radio – KPCC/89.3 FM. No reason given. Normally quiet on the headline front, in recent months the station has seen the dismissal of Patt Morrison, the exit of Madeleine Brand and newsroom staffers voting to unionize with SAG /AFTRA. No word yet on a replacement.

SIRIUS SOUND

Adrian Acuna: e-mailed to offer a positive view on the sound of Sirius/XM: “I’ve had Sirius/XM since 1998 in my Honda, after-market set up and for 12 years zero problems, great sound and reception. It works inside my garage and most parking structures. Now my niece has my old car and she is enjoying XM.. Now with my new Nissan,with Sirius/XM and NAV package, again great reception and sound quality and again works inside my garage. I have a premium sound system with Rockford Fosgate speakers and subwoofer. Highs and lows are perfect.”

STATION BREAKS

Orange County Register business writer Jon Lansner is on KFWB/980 AM at 8:12 a.m. Fridays.

Bill Dudley will be at Spaghettini in Seal Beach Sunday (Feb. 17) for KTWV/94.7 FM’s “Wave” Sunday Brunch. KTWV is also at The Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel. More info on the OC brunch: www.spaghettini.com.

Mari Frank hosts two Monday morning shows on Irvine-based KUCI/889.9 FM starting at 8 a.m. One is “Privacy Policy” and is followed by “Prescriptions for Healing Conflict.” “Prescriptions for Healing” topic Monday (Feb. 181) is on six stages of forgiveness. More information: Mari@MariFrank.com.

Bob Goodman’s “Whole ‘Nuther Thing” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 celebrates the music of Chicago in America. More info: www.ksbr.org. Previous shows are available for download at bobksbr.podomatic.com.

“The Bob Hope Show,” “The Stan Freberg Show,” “Suspense,” and “Inner Sanctum” will be heard on John and Larry Gassman’s “Same Time, Same Station,” which streams on demand every Sunday and also includes a Eddie Cantor Show episode. Go to www.vintageradioplace.com. Segments It is also available for download beginning Monday or Tuesday at www.radiooutofthepast.org.

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